Texan Mosaic

Madeleine Davis contributed to this story.

Design a career with graphic arts

You don’t have to be an artist to find your way to the SPC Graphic Arts program in the Technical Arts Building.   But once you get there it’s easy to start feeling like one.

      As soon as you walk in, you’re welcomed by a big, splashy mural.

   Bulletin boards in hallways display student projects of all kinds – some featuring black and white designs.  Others feature more colors.

     In a nearby computer lab, where students work on projects, one wall is lined with framed, boldly colored portraits that stare back at you. 

    Another wall offers a dozen or so variations of the same theme:  iced donuts.  All have different colored backgrounds, icing, and, of course, sprinkles.

     So, what is graphic art?  While it’s interesting to look at, how is it different from or the same as any other kind art?

      The SPC Graphic Arts program webpage describes its coursework this way:  “Training is production-oriented with emphasis on print media, web site design, video graphics and multimedia presentation.”    The page goes on to explain the program offers students two options.  Students can specialize with an art emphasis or an internet emphasis.

   Wayne Beadles, program coordinator and associate professor of graphic arts, has been teaching graphic art design  for 17 years.

  “Most of my students major in graphic art design,” he says.  “We’ve had some photography students that study different fields.”

     Beadles says some of the beginning graphic art classes may benefit students in their careers even if they don’t major in graphic art.  

    “Most of our beginning classes are teaching software,” he says, “and then we do have another class that is design concepts which we talk a lot about theories and elements of designs and mainly gets into how to communicate through all the different elements.”

      Beadles shows off an example of one of his student’s projects.  It’s called “The Growing Love”, and it was done by student Jasmine Garduno.

     Higher level classes, Beadles says, require more projects and skills.

    “For projects we try really hard to make it as real life as possible,” he says.  “So, for example two weeks on a project is long. We try to have the project done within two to four days.”

        One student project that looks a bit like a robot with a target-shaped head sits in the graphic arts common area.  Beadles says it was done in a design concepts class years ago using geometric shapes.  Now, he says, the head of the piece is being used as this year’s SPC iDigi logo.

     iDigi is a digital arts festival that SPC hosted March 7. As the festival site explains, it’s a chance for high school students to show their skills with digital equipment. Categories include video creation, web design, music, digital arts and more.

     In February, graphic art work from Texas Tech students was exhibited  in the Helen Devitt Jones Theater for the Performing Arts building.  A long row of colorful posters lined  the windowed display case in the main hall.  Kristi Kristinek, SPC assistant professor of fine arts and SPC Fine Arts Gallery director, says she booked the exhibit to show a wide range and variety of of projects.

     “ I wanted our current art majors and others across campus,” Kristinek says, “to be able to see what a four year program project looks like.”

    As an art professor and artist herself, Kristinek says graphic art is absolutely “art”.

     “In order to understand how the ‘graphic’ works, “ she says, “you have to understand the elements and principles of design which are based in any creative situation.  From here, they can build into their own area.  These areas go beyond the 2D and 3D design and can live I graphic arts, fashion, architecture, game design, and illustration.”

      Wayne Beadles explains people might be surprised by the wide variety of careers that can consist of graphic design.

     “Students can still use these skills even if they’re working at a bank,” he says “Most of my students have gone down marketing and design, fashion design, photography, and even package design.”

     Beadles says the SPC Graphic Arts program has distinct advantages.

     “Here at South Plains College, we have students graduate from our program within two years compared to Texas Tech which is a four-year school,” he says. “They complete the two years here and go through internships right after or even begin their job. Our program is extremely beneficial to students that want to start early in their career.”

      Former SPC graphic arts student Olivia Montes is an example of someone who made the most out of her two years at SPC.  She graduated last May.

     “I completed two years in the graphic design program,” she says.  “As soon as I was finished, I was hired as a graphic designer for Trinity Church.”

     Montes says the classes at SPC truly prepared her for her design job.  She says the specific areas that helped her were learning labels, t-shirt design, the rules that come with crafting business designs and copywriting.

     Montes offer a photo of her latest work on the job using skills she learned at SPC.

      “Any class I teach will give students skills in any career they fulfill,” Wayne Beadles says.  “From t-shirt designing to constructing forms in a medical office. It’s not all big projects like you see in the room.”

       While Montes says she attended art classes her whole life, SPC helped launch her to where she is now.  In other words, she, and many others, “designed” her career in graphic arts.